Social Security Administration Interview Questions & Reviews

Interview Details The Social Security Administration usually likes to hire from campuses. In the New York City area, they do a lot of hiring from St. John's University, Queens College and Stony Brook. Hiring managers appear at the job fairs to accept resumes. They hire people of all majors and backgrounds. In the summer, they will send potential candidates an email inviting them to take a test in one of the Federal buildings in Manhattan. They also include sample questions and answers for the test. As long as you understand the sample questions, the test actual test is very easy. If you pass the test, they'll call you to tell you that you passed and they'll invite you to an interview. The interview session is pretty lengthy because you'll be meeting with multiple people. The interview is very casual and they do most of the talking, explaining what the job entails.

Negotiation Details – They let me choose two start dates, as there were two batches of new benefit authorizer trainees. This varies every hiring phase.

Interview Details Took several months from application to hiring. Fairly onerous set of questions. Process seemed to be geared toward screening by Personel, who then forwarded only a few prospective candidates for interviews. Interview was informal for me, but other interviews of co-workers involved 2 or more interviewers who asked pointed questions. General approach is 'by the numbers', so one should pay careful attention to the initial questions on the job questionaire (several essay style answers, etc.).

Negotiation Details – There was no negotiation, rather, simply a request to accept or decline. Very inpersonal.

Interview Details I originally was an intern for two colleges during the summer. When I graduated I asked about potential openings and was notified they were hiring.

Negotiation Details – No negotiation as salaries are set by the union and federal government.

Interview Details I was asked several questions concerning dealing with the general public and if you have had experience dealing with the, as I call it, " John Doe" public, you would be a good candidate to work for Social Security. Also, being able to work with numbers is a must as most of our work is centered around social security numbers; which help us to identify everyone. Excellent oral communication is also a plus.

Negotiation Details – Yes, I will accept the position.

Interview Details Contacted by one of the supervisors for an interview. During the interview, all supervisors are present, along with the Office Director. It's a very laid back interview and you must just be yourself.

Negotiation Details – You can't really negotiate salary because it's a position in the government, but you can negotiate your work hours.

Interview Details I am a consultant in public administration. I run the procedure for issuing residence permits to foreigners in the country.

Interview Details Did a phone interview. Panel was the Branch Chief who hired me and 3 or 4 other technical and supervisory people. The BC read me 4 questions and gave me some time to think about my answers and write down some notes before I started responding. No one else said anything the whole time, so I had no way to judge reactions or get any feedback as I responded.

Negotiation Details – I was offered a grade/step1 and Salary offered was below that of my last job. I asked if they could match it. It took a couple more weeks but they game back with the first same grade/step x that was at least as much as I had been making before.

Interview Details I already worked for the agency when I applied for this job as a promotion. Thus, I only had a telephone interview. The process still took a long time because the hiring process at this agency is extremely slow.

Not that I wanted the interview to be excruciatingly hard, but I felt that the interview was too short for them to have a good sense of who I was. I more felt like they just asked a list of questions without really paying attention to my answers.

Negotiation Details – You are not able to negotiate. The salary is set by Congress and you know what it is even prior to applying.

Interview Details I received an email stating that telephone interviews would be conducted on three days and asking me to select a time to interview. The interviewers were reading off a script and did not allow for much off of the script until the end when I was allowed to ask questions. I was then called about two weeks after the interview with the job offer and started around two weeks after that.

Negotiation Details – No negotiation. Offer was firm.